RYA Day Skipper Theory Courses

The Course

The Day Skipper shorebased course is for those that have done little or no actual navigation, regardless of whether you have a lot of sailing experience or none.

The course includes lots of navigation (including use of GPS and electronic charts), meteorology, collision regulations and safety procedures.

Courses are carried out over either:

8 weeks (1 evening a week) and a weekend all in a classroom OR

2 and 1/2 weekends all in a classroom OR

At home Online + 5 classroom sessions. A 'blended learning' format.

You can attend one of the courses we have listed on our website here or we can run one at your office.

Ideally the Day Skipper theory course should be followed by a Day Skipper practical course. On completion of the practical course you will be qualified to charter and skipper a yacht. Depending on how much sailing you have previously done you may need to take a practical Competent Crew course before taking the Day Skipper Practical Course.

A student website with lots of useful links and copies of the course slides available on line - very useful if you miss a lesson or would like to see what is coming up in the next lesson or wish to refresh your memory.

Enthusiastic and dedicated First Class Sailing instructors who will go the extra mile

Wonderful customer service support team from the First Class Sailing office

RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Certificate at the end

Unlimited ongoing support and advice on matters nautical

For the combined classroom and online course you will be given a username and password to access the RYA approved online modules. Full email/phone support will be on hand from an instructor for any questions arise that may arise.

What To Expect

Fun.

You'll learn a lot.

You'll meet like minded individuals in the classroom sessions.

You'll get as much or as little help from your instructor as you need.

An instructor who loves teaching you.

An excellent selection of course materials.

What if I Have to Miss a Lesson?

It is not a problem if you have to miss a lesson providing you are prepared to put some effort into catching up. We provide a comprehensive set of notes including an area on our website where you can access the slides the instructor shows. There is a bit of homework each week and providing you do this you know you will have caught up sufficiently. Also the instructor is there half an hour before the start of each class and can often stay behind afterwards if required.

Start Times

Courses are run over 40 hours plus time for exams. Evening classes generally start at 6.30pm with the instructor being available from 6pm. Weekend classes start at 9am.

Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see RYA Boat Safety Handbook C8)

Fire precautions and fire fighting

Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and life jackets

Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radiotelephone

Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

Steering and sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12-19)

General rules (all other rules)

Latitude and longitude

Knowledge of standard navigational terms

True bearings and courses

The nautical mile

Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance

Navigational publications in common use

Chart correction

Navigational drawing instruments

Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments

Application of variation

Awareness of deviation and its causes

Use of hand-bearing compass

Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway

Techniques of visual fixing

Satellite-derived positions

Use of waypoints to fix position

Course to steer

Tidal definitions, levels and datum

Tide tables

Use of admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port and awareness of corrections for secondary ports

Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases for chartwork

Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics

Sources of broadcast meteorological information

Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft

Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts

Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages

Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages

Use of waypoints on passage

Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source

Keeping a navigational record

Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by, fog

Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines

IALA system of buoyage for Region A

Use of sailing directions

Pilotage plans and harbour entry

Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment

You need for the course a set of plotters and dividers. These are navigational instruments. We can provide them for £20 and you can pick them up at the first class. Alternatively you can buy them from most chandleries but they will probably be more expensive. You will be asked if you want us to supply you with this item when you book a course.

It is useful at this stage to purchase a £6.00 logbook. The Logbook is a place to record your miles and keep your certificates. It outlines the whole RYA Cruising Scheme giving the course content for each course.

We advise bringing a briefcase or bag to transport the course materials away on the first night.

"What did you like most about about your course? Well-defined and beautifully balanced act between people, didactics and technology. Combo is rarely achieved successfully but it hits the bull's eye! How would you rate the support you received during your course on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being very poor and 5 being excellent? 5 no doubt. From the first feedback onwards it's guaranteed you are not alone! I like the way anecdotes and facts are sprinkled occasionally alongside the syllabus, like recent ship wrecks in the Channel, etc. This certainly makes reading more interesting as text books tend to be somewhat drier. Please use any occasion to exploit that approach. That enriches the reader immensely as it is first-hand knowledge in its purest form, and that is certainly difficult to obtain anywhere else. Well done. "

LJ,

"The Instructor was an excellent coach and really took the time with our class to ensure we all understood all aspects of the course. He was patient and prepared to take the time to ensure we all had the best knowledge transferred to us. He was an excellent instructor and had a significant amount of detailed knowledge that was most helpful to me and the rest of the class. He is passionate and fully committed to his work and goes above and beyond to ensure you are capable and have a really enjoyable experience learning with him. First Class Sailing are well organised and the logistics, course material and facilities were all top notch "

David, Director

"First Class Sailing should be your only choice for embarking on any theoretical or practical learning experience you may require. Regardless of previous experience it is defiantly No1. Choice for getting the best start around your sailing experience requirements. "

David, Director

"An excellent outfit, well equipped with good boats and brilliant instructors, that is small enough to give a warm personal service but big enough to cope with the full gamut of yachting experiences"

Thomas H.,

"I am no longer scared of the engine, touching bolts etc."

Georgina, Office Manager

"Excellent instructor - gave freely of his experience - very dedicated and enormously helpful."

Colin McKnight,

"Professional and effective. Good equipment, taught by knowledgable and enthusiastic professionals."

Ron G.,

"The instructor was the perfect balance of show and tell mixed with letting you make your own mistakes safely. (The booking process) was all very professional and friendly. I felt the booking official actually cared about getting my booking right. Friendly, personalised, professional with out being officious. "

Andy C.,

"Excellent and I highly recommend to take any of First Class Sailing's courses"

Daniel O., Senior Manager

"Best Sailing School in the UK!"

Stefano D, Director

"Don't choose courses on basis of price. All courses are not the same. Both First Class Sailing Theory and Practical courses are 'First Class'."

Michael T,

"Great practical use of equipment. Good class size. Relaxed. "

Hannah T.,

"Good clear explanations and pragmatic approach, was very easy to follow. Excellent instructor."